Multi-storey garage with a helical elevator



d 196 A. J. M. F- POSTMEZS E L 3,474,918

lULTI-STOREY GARAGE WITH}. HELICAL ELEVATOR Flled Jan- 23. 1967 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS 4121021111: Josepku: Marge fiam'ais Toslme: Cornelis 4arza Warmers;

A 13 REE 15 United States Patent 1 Int. Cl. E04h 6/00; B66b 9/00 US. Cl. 214-161 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE There is disclosed a storage building, particularly for parking vehicles, comprising at least one storage unit having a substantially square hollow elevator shaft, at least one elevator arranged for rotation about a vertical axis in the shaft, a number of storage stalls arranged above each other between parallel side walls and opening at one end into a side of the shaft, the projection of the storage stalls and the shaft having the shape of a rectangular cross, and supporting means in the shaft disposed to support and guide the elevator during its rotation along a helical path about said axis, the storage stalls being spaced helically about the shaft in correspondence with said helical path, and the diameter of the elevator being greater than the distance between the parallel side walls of the storage stalls.

This invention relates to a multiple-storey building, particularly for parking vehicles.

It is a primary object of the invention to provide a storage unit construction whereby a maximum number of cars may be stored in a given area and which construction is simple and can be built economically.

It is a further object of the invention to provide such a unit construction which has in horizontal section the form of a rectangular cross whereby it may be combined with similar units to a larger building with a maximum storage capacity in a given area.

A still further object is to provide such a unit having superposed storage stalls radiating from a central elevator shaft in which a rotatable elevator is arranged which is supported and guided by helical means to be moved up and down on rotation.

More particularly, the invention provides a storage unit having a substantially square hollow elevator shaft, at least one elevator arranged for rotation about a vertical axis in said shaft, a number of storage stalls arranged above each other between parallel side walls and opening at one end into each side of said elevator shaft, the projection of said storage stalls and the elevator shaft having the shape of a rectangular cross, supporting means in said elevator shaft adapted to support and guide said elevator I during its rotation along a helical path about said axis, said storage stalls being spaced helically about said elevator shaft in correspondence with said helical path, and the diameter of said elevator being greater than the distance between the parallel side walls of said storage stalls. This provides for maximum rise of the ground floor area as the formation of triangular spaces, for which there is no effective use, is prevented.

In the accompanying drawings two embodiments of the present invention are shown diagrammatically, by way of example.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a horizontal section, on the line 1-1 in FIGURE 2, of a garage unit equipped with a platform which rotates during its vertical movement, so as to be Patented Oct. 28, 1969 periodically in registry with one of the storage spaces disposed helically around the elevator shaft.

FIGURE 2 is a vertical section on the line 2-2 on FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a section similar to that of FIGURE 2 of a different embodiment.

FIGURE 4 shows a ground plan of the ground floor of the garage illustrated in FIGURE 3.

Referring to FIGURES 1 and 2, the garage has in two directions perpendicular to each other, arranged in the form of a cross and radiating from a central elevator shaft above each other a number of storage spaces or stalls 1, each divided into two storage rooms 2. The storage spaces or stalls 1 are arranged successively at a higher level along a helical line about the central elevator shaft. In the central elevator shaft a rotary elevator is supported by the elevator guide 9, which is secured to the floor members 10 of the entrances to the storage spaces 1 to form a helical track for the elevator 8 corresponding to the helical line which is followed subsequently by the storage spaces 1. To ensure that each half of the elevator is level with the storage space to be operated after each quarter-turn, one half 11 of the elevator is lower than the other half 12 by one-eighth of the height or vertical spacing of the storage spaces 1, i.e. the difference in level between two storage rooms 2.

Between the ground and at least one of the lowest storage spaces or stalls 1 is a free space to form an entrance to the central elevator shaft. In the same way means may be provided for an exit.

As the diameter of the elevator 8 is greater than the width between the side walls of the storage spaces or stalls 1 the elevator is close to the corners formed by these side walls and the elevator projects at its periphery into each stall as clearly shown in FIGURE 1 and useless triangular spaces are prevented.

In the modification of FIGURES 3 and 4 two elevators 13 and 14 are arranged. The guide for the rotary elevators 13 and 14 formed by the sloping floors 15 of the storage spaces 16. The elevator 13 can be used above-ground, the elevator 14 underground. The supporting surface of the elevators 13 and 14 is sloped to match the slope of the floors 15.

What is claimed is:

1. A storage building, particularly for parking vehicles, comprising at least one storage unit having a substantially square hollow elevator shaft, at least one elevator arranged for rotation about a vertical axis in said shaft, a number of storage stalls arranged above each other between parallel side walls and opening at one end into each side of said elevator shaft, the projection of said storage stalls and the elevator shaft having the shape of a rectangular cross, supporting means in said elevator shaft adapted to support and guide said elevator during its rotation along a helical path about said axis, said storage stalls being spaced helically about said elevator shaft in correspondence with said helical path, and the diameter of said elevator being greater than the distance between the parallel side walls of said storage stalls, thereby to project at its periphery into each stall.

2. A storage building as defined in claim 1 wherein each storage stall is divided into two rooms one having a lower level than the other and the elevator has two floor levels one lower than the other to correspond with the differences in stall floor levels so that room levels and elevator floor levels will match at each quarter turn of the elevator.

3. A storage building as defined in claim 1 wherein two elevators are provided, one to serve a lower elevation grouping of storage stalls and the other a higher elevation grouping of storage stalls.

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stalls.

3 4 4. A storage building as defined in claim 1 wherein the 1,861,461 6/ 1932 Traube. floor of the elevator is sloped to connect opposite stor- 1,966,165 7/1934 Clyde. age stalls.

5. A storage building as defined in claim 3 wherein the FOREIGN PATENTS floor of the elevator is sloped to connect opposite storage 5 857,687 12/1952 Germany 389,883 7/ 1965 Switzerland.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS GERALD M. FORLENZA, Primary Examiner RAYMOND B. JOHNSON, Assistant Examiner Kehr. 10 Comb. U.S. Cl. X.R. Klanke. 18725 Randle. 

